New Hanover investigating robocalls

Published: Tuesday, May 6, 2014 at 10:15 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, May 6, 2014 at 10:15 a.m.

New Hanover County officials are looking into a series of election related robocalls that listed a county office phone number as the contact information Tuesday morning.

The calls were sent out Tuesday morning and contained a male voice claiming to be Commissioner Brian Berger asking voters to support Woody White in his bid for the congressional seat. Since they were sent out the county offices have been flooded with angry phone calls from residents who believe New Hanover paid for the ads, but officials said that is not the case.

"The county did not fund this, initiate this or facilitate this in any way," county spokeswoman Carey Disney Ricks said.

A robocall purchaser has the ability to choose any phone number as a "mask" that will appear on caller ID systems, Ricks said.

The county is looking into the issue, but Ricks said there is no further information at this time.

In a written statement, White said his campaign had nothing to do with the robocalls.

“Last night, and again this morning, Republican voters in New Hanover County received a recorded phone call from troubled county commissioner Brian Berger. I did not authorize his call nor do I seek support from him," White said. "This appears to an election-eve attempt to confuse voters and associate me with his antics and problems while he served as a New Hanover County commissioner."

<p>New Hanover County officials are looking into a series of election related robocalls that listed a county office phone number as the contact information Tuesday morning.</p><p>The calls were sent out Tuesday morning and contained a male voice claiming to be Commissioner <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9976"><b>Brian Berger</b></a> asking voters to support Woody White in his bid for the congressional seat. Since they were sent out the county offices have been flooded with angry phone calls from residents who believe New Hanover paid for the ads, but officials said that is not the case.</p><p>"The county did not fund this, initiate this or facilitate this in any way," county spokeswoman Carey Disney Ricks said. </p><p>A robocall purchaser has the ability to choose any phone number as a "mask" that will appear on caller ID systems, Ricks said. </p><p>The county is looking into the issue, but Ricks said there is no further information at this time.</p><p>In a written statement, White said his campaign had nothing to do with the robocalls.</p><p>“Last night, and again this morning, Republican voters in New Hanover County received a recorded phone call from troubled county commissioner Brian Berger. I did not authorize his call nor do I seek support from him," White said. "This appears to an election-eve attempt to confuse voters and associate me with his antics and problems while he served as a New Hanover County commissioner."</p><p>Berger did not immediately return calls for comment. </p><p></p><p>-- Ashley Withers</p>